Middle East

Washington Post: Bin Salman is Seen as a Leader with an Incoherent View of Foreign Affairs

add at:
2018-08-09 09:13:22

News - Middle East - Saudi Arabia

The Washington Post published an article by writer and analyst, Ishan Tharoor, commenting on recent developments in the Saudi-Canadian crisis. The writer said in his article, that the Crown Prince, Mohammed Bin Salman, received, a few months ago, a warm welcome in all the Western capitals. Bin Salman was in an intensive international tour, met politicians, businessmen and film and media stars, as part of his marketing attempts to sell his, 2030 initiative, which aims to move the Kingdom from the era of oil to the economic diversification era.

The writer quotes Bin Salman, in a meeting with editors of the Washington Post and its leading editors, as saying that he is trying to make the Middle East "the next Europe," pointing out that his comments led to a state of optimism, and prompted many to write rosy comments from the most important columnists in the American press. The writer also admits that the diplomatic crisis that erupted this week reveals the "fragility" of the words of the Crown Prince, pointing out that the reason for the quarrel that led to the expulsion of the Canadian ambassador, the recall of the Saudi ambassador from Ottawa and the suspension of all trade relations is that Canada complained about the arrest of human rights activists, Among them is Samar Badawi, the sister of blogger Raef Badawi.

Tharoor pointed out that Saudi Arabia has exploded in comments made by Canadian Foreign Minister, Christia Friedland, as a blatant interference in internal affairs, pointing out that punitive measures included stopping Saudi Arabian Airlines flights and inviting envoys to Canadian universities. "The response was surprising, and an exaggerated, it would disrupt the education and lives of the students' families, where they would be transferred to other universities in the same courses as the United Kingdom," he said.

Tharoor refers that the Saudi campaign took a curious path when an (infographic) picture emerged of a plane approaching a tower in Toronto, reminiscent of the September 2001 attacks, which called for an apology from officials at the Saudi embassy, which gave support to indigenous people in Canada, was part of the campaign and the separation of Quebec province from the country. The writer said that behind the quarrel there is the arms deal signed in 2014 with the conservative government, which was defeated by the Liberal party of Justin Trudeau, who kept the deal despite the media criticism and the position of public opinion that rejects it.

The writer concludes by saying that "Bin Salman is seen as a leader with an incoherent vision of foreign affairs, which includes the crisis with Qatar, the devastating war in Yemen, and the failed attempt to cooperate with Trump in the peace process between the Palestinians and the Israelis."

About us

This page is the English version of Almasirah Media Network website and it focuses on delivering all leading News and developments in Yemen, the Middle East and the world.
In the eara of misinformation imposed by the main stream media in the Middle East and abroad, Almasirah Media Network strive towards promoting knowledge, principle values and justice, among all societies and cultures in the world, ...More